Oxygen-isolation and overboard-dumping system



Sept. 16, 1969 M. w. GOODMAN 3,467,094'

OXYGENISOLATION AND OVERBOARD-DUMPING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 1, 1966 'MAXWELLW. GOODMAN ATTK INVENTOR.

United States Patent US. Cl. 128-204 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn enclosed decompression chamber for diving personnel wherein a masksystem normally isolates the users breathing fluids from the chamberatmosphere but when the pressure in the mask system suddenly drops, avalve permits chamber atmosphere to enter the mask system to preventinjury to the wearer.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to an oxygen system for use in a decompressionchamber or tank. More specifically, the invention relates to a systemwhich maintains the concentration of oxygen in the general atmosphere ofthe decompression chamber or tank at as low a level as possible tothereby minimize the hazard of fire during the decompression period whenthe persons being subject to the decompression are breathing pureoxygen. The problem to which this invention relates is associated withthe problems encountered in subjecting the living human body to theunaccustomed environment of high pressure encountered in deep diving.Among the problems is the problem of absorption of gas into the bloodstream when a person breathes gases under pressure in a pressurizedenvironment and the attendant problem of removing these absorbed gasesfrom the human system when the person is to be returned to anenvironment of normal pressure. One of the devices developed tofacilitate the removal of the absorbed gases from the human system isthe decompression chamber or tank into which the person in need ofdecompression is placed. In the chamber the person is allowed to breathpure oxygen as the pressure is gradually reduced to normal.

In the past decompression chambers or tanks, which are sometimesdesigned to house several people during a decompression cycle, have beensubject to accumulations of large concentrations of oxygen in thegeneral atmosphere of the tank, which produces a highly dangerousenvironment in which a small spark may produce a conflagration from anycombustible matter within the tank, and has within recent times causedthe death of several people.

The source of much of this excess oxygen in the general atmospherewithin the tank results from the discharge of the exhaled gases directlyinto the tank from the oxygen masks worn by the people undergoingdecompression. These exhaled gases include large concentrations ofoxygen, containing from 40 to 60% of oxygen by volume. It thereforeoccurred to the inventor that one solution to the problem would be topass the exhaled gases, including the excess oxygen, outside the tank.

Particularly dangerous is the concentration of oxygen about the head ofthe person undergoing decompression which results largely from theoxygen exhaled from the mask.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a system whichminimizes the concentration of oxygen in a decompression tank.

3,467,094 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 It is a further object of thisinvention to provide means whereby the exhaled gases of the peopleundergoing decompression are passed to the exterior of the decompressiontank.

\Another object of this invention is to produce a means for reducing thehazards of fire in a decompression tank.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as disclosure is made in the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of the mask and the attendantconnection therewith.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the two views, there isshown in FIG. 1 a portion of a decompression tank 11 with an oxygenmanifold 12 and an exhaust manifold 13. In the tank is shown a face mask14 connected across the two manifolds by an oxygen intake tube 15 and anexhaust tube 16 with the oxygen intake tube 15 connected through ademand regulator 18. Also connected to the exhaust side of the mask is abreathing bag 17 which facilitates the normal breathing of theindividual wearing the mask.

Now referring to FIG. 2 for greater details of the mask structure, themask 14 is shown as having an inlet check valve 22 and an exhaust checkvalve 23. There is also .provided a flexible non-collapsible tube 25within said bag through which the exhaled gases enter the bag and at theend of the breathing bag 17 there is also provided a valve 24 whichserves to protect the individual against sudden drops in the internalpressure of the mask, such as might occur if the exhaust manifoldcontrol valves were suddenly opened by mistake. The tube serves toprevent complete collapse of the bag under a sudden drop in internalpressure. This is desirable since the interior of the chamber is at amuch higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure outside and anysudden local drop in pressure such as might occur within the mask if theexhaust valve were open too widely, might produce injury to theindividual wearing the mask. Valves 19 and 21 as shown in FIG. 1 aregenerally regulatory valves for adjusting the operation of the mask tothe individual undergoing decompression. The valve 24 is a verysensitive check valve type which responds quickly to any change inpressure.

In operation, the mask is adjusted to the individual to reduce theleakage to a minimum around the mask and then the valves 19 and 21 areadjusted to supply an adequate amount of oxygen to the mask and asufficient exhaust from the mask so that the input and exhaust from themask are equalized. The bag 17, being made of a substantially air tightmaterial, such as rubber or cloth impregnated with rubber, inflatesduring the exhaust cycle of the breathing of the wearer of the mask sothat the excess of the exhaust over the amount permitted by the valve 19to pass into the manifold is stored temporarily in the bag 17 and isthen fed off through the manifold during the inhaling portion of thebreathing cycle. Valves 22 and 23 operate in a usual manner as checkvalves 22, closing during the exhaling portion of the breathing cycleand valve 23 closing during the inhaling portion of the breathing cycle.

The aforedescn'bed system thus provides means for preventing a buildupof the oxygen concentration in a decompression tank from the exhalant ofthe persons undergoing decompression, thereby lessening the chances ofaccidental fire in the decompression tank.

It will be noted that the present system lends itself to the controlledstudy of the gases exhaled in the process of human respiration since allthe exhaled gases are passed through a manifold which could be connectedto suitable analytic equipment.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A decompression system for providing decompression for divingpersonnel returning to atmospheric pressure during a period in which thediving personnel may breathe a gas mixture containing a relatively highpercentage of oxygen, said system comprising:

a fluid tight decompression chamber for said diving personnel, saidchamber being provided with means for controlling a decompression cycleemploying essentially atmospheric gas of inherently low oxygen contentin said chamber;

first and second fluid tight conduits each passing through a wall ofsaid decompression chamber in a fluid tight manner, said first conduitadapted for being connected to a source of oxygen externally of saidchamber;

a plurality of valve means located on each of said first and secondconduits at spaced apart positions within said chamber;

said second fluid tight conduit being connected to exhaust externally ofsaid chamber;

a fluid tight breathing mask for personnel use connected across saidfirst and second conduits at each location of said valve means thereon;

each of said masks having an inlet tube connected to said first conduitand an outlet tube connected to said second conduit;

a demand regulator coupled to the intake tube of each mask;

a bag for each mask, said bag having check valve means mounted thereinto prevent exhaustion of bag contents to the chamber and to enableambient atmosphere to enter the bag when the pressure therein dropsbelow the ambient pressure within the chamber;

check valve means in each of the inlet and outlet tubes;

whereby during decompression of diving personnel there is prevention ofoxygen accumulation in the general atmosphere due to exhalation withinthe decompression chamber thereby minimizing the chance of oxygenignition.

2. In a breathing system for an individual undergoing decompression in achamber pressurized with a gaseous mixture:

a face mask adapted to be worn by said individual;

a supply system for providing a breathing mixture to 4 the interior ofsaid face mask to satisfy the breathing demands of said individual;

a container coupled to said face mask and adapted to receive theexhalations of said individual during the discharge portion of hisbreathing cycle.

means for continually venting the contents of said container to alocation exterior to said pressurized chambet; and

means responsive to the occurrence of an inadequate amount of saidbreathing mixture at the interior of said face mask and to the resultingdecrease in the pressure level within said container caused by thebreathing demands of said individual not being satisfied from saidsupply system for connecting said chamber to said last-mentioned means,

whereby the gaseous mixture in said chamber is also vented to theexterior of said pressurized chamber and the pressure therein lowered toa level which will permit said individual to remove said face mask andsupply his breathing demands from the gaseous mixture in said chamber.

3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said venting means comprises:

an exhaust line coupled at one end to said container and at the otherend to the exterior of said chamber, said exhaust line having means forrestricting gaseous flow therethrough; and

suction means coupled to said other end of said exhaust line for aidingin the expulsion of the gaseous contents of said line.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said container isdeformable.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein said connecting meansincludes a check valve mounted on said deformable container and adaptedto permit a one way flow of gas from the exterior to the interior ofsaid container and wherein said deformable container is provided withmeans for maintaining a fluid passage between said check valve and saidone end of said exhaust line during collapse of said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,086 11/1925 Korvibski128---142.3 2,119,446 5/1938 Sholes 128-202X 3,348,538 10/1967 Benzel128l42 FOREIGN PATENTS 248,289 8/1962 Australia.

WILLIAM E. KAMM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128-142

